The Malaysian Grand Prix one week ago resulted in a mix of two-, three-, and four-stop strategies as the tires degraded quickly in the hot temperatures. However, Pirelli is expecting strategies to mirror those at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix this weekend.

"We've been very encouraged by our first day of running in China, which like nearly every one of the circuits this year is entirely new to us," said Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery. "Although today has been warm, degradation is a lot less than we saw in Malaysia, so I'm expecting to have two pit stops per car on race day, similar to Australia."

A side-effect of the higher degradation levels manufactured in to the Pirellis this year are chunks of rubber, known as marbles, coming off the tires. A number of drivers flagged the issue in Malaysia after losing grip when they ran over the marbles, but Hembery said the situation is less severe in China.

"We've also seen a lot fewer 'marbles' - deposits of rubber, with the shape and consistency of toffee, left by the tires on the track as they degrade - and that should be the case during the race too as we are expecting fewer pit stops in the normal course of events."

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